Establishing a district-wide view on how to deliver events for the benefit of the whole community is the goal of this week's Shaping our Future community forums in Wanaka and Queenstown.
Event ownership and delivery in the Queenstown Lakes district has been a hotly debated issue for several years and some structure around future direction is being called for.
"The district is already a popular events destination and what we are trying to do is capitalise on that position," Shaping Our Future steering group spokesman David Kennedy said.
Challenge Wanaka race director and event manager Victoria Murray-Orr said cohesion between all the district's events was vital.
"We have very full events calendars as it is and I guess it's about proper planning for those events ... so there's not conflicts," she said.
Mrs Murray-Orr said it was "absolutely fantastic" the Queenstown Lakes District Council was consulting the community and residents were taking a proactive approach towards ensuring the Queenstown Lakes district remained an attractive events destination.
Wanaka's Festival of Colour director Philip Tremewan agreed it was important the council develop a "strong events and arts policy" to achieve ongoing economic success, as had been demonstrated in places like Taupo and Edinburgh in Scotland.
"QLDC has certainly been talking about it for a while and I think its's time to put it into action," he said.
Former Queenstown Winter Festival director Simon Green, a veteran events manager and entertainer, said Queenstown could still not compete with the main centres as a major entertainment venue because of its lack of facilities.
The conference and incentive market was where Queenstown could flourish, because of its accommodation, Mr Green said.
Lakes Leisure events and venues manager J.D. Marrable, who came from event management work overseas just over a year ago, said he was impressed with the quality of event management in Queenstown.
The resort was positioned well in terms of attracting bigger and better music shows and the conference and incentive market in the future and there was a strong balance between affordable events for the community, commercial ticketed events and sporting fixtures.
Residents with an interest in the future of events are being encouraged toshare their ideas at the public forums today, from 4pm to 6pm at the Council Centre in Wanaka and at the Council Chambers in Queenstown.
